page_title: Miranda do Corvo
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Miranda do Corvo / History
caption_attribution_description: Silhar com medalhão de paisagem. Azulejos do século 18. Fotógrafo: João Miguel dos Santos Simões, 1907-1972. Data de produção da fotografia original: 1960-1970. [CFT009.0352n.ic]
context_page_description: Miranda do Corvo is a town and a municipality in the Portuguese district of Coimbra, with an area of 126.38 square kilometres and 2011 population of 13,098 inhabitants.
context_section_description: The first reference to the region of Miranda do Corvo arrived at the end of the 10th century, although evidence of archaeological evidence to human settlement extend further back in history. The 10th century document that referenced these lands were associated with the Monastery of Lorvão in 998, that identified a military structure in Miranda do Corvo, that included tower. Today there is recognition that the settlement of Vila Nova occurred in pre-history and that Chão de Lamas during a proto-historical interval. Archaeological excavations around the Roman settlement of Eira Velha in Lamas also unearthed the vestiges of the agricultural community important along Roman roadways.
  The oldest settlement, in Alto do Calvário, suggests a period colonization dating to the Middle Ages, from dating of tombs and earthen burial excavation. Included in the discoveries were:
  a stone structure, from the end of the Middle Ages, that secured the access to the tower;
  a drop, composed of large ashlars slabs, dating to the 18th century (corresponding to part of the castle wall);
  a necropolis of graves dug into the rock, from the 12th century;
  the existence of two graves, located near the Cristo Rei statue, buried with the inscription that they were buries "in accordance with Islamic tradition, in right lateral decubitus, oriented to the East".
  The primary settlement of Miranda do Corvo developed around its castle which, owing to location and defensibility, guarded the access along the old Roman roadway that crossed Corvo and connected Sellium (Tomar) to Aeminium (Coimbra), as well as the interior of the western interior peninsula. Its all-encompassing position and vantage resulted in its adopting of the name "Miranda", from the Latin Mirandus (meaning "watchtower").
  The settlement was likely to have grown around the hilltop of Alto do Calvário. But, although important in the Mondego defensive line during the Christian reconquest of Coimbra, little information survives of Miranda's role. In 1116, the region was attacked by Almoravid raiders, but held back in Coimbra. The castle of Miranda do Corvo was destroyed in the 12th century, resulting in the destruction of the fortification walls, many deaths and peoples imprisoned. The castle remained in ruin for sometime, although it is unclear at what point it was reconstructed.
  On 19 November 1136 Miranda received its first foral (charter) from D. Afonso Henriques, which was confirmed by King D. Afonso II.
  In 1383, there was a reference to João Afonso Teles opening the gates to King D. João I of Castille when he travelled to Lisbon contest the Master of Aviz.
  But along the centuries the ancient castle fell into ruin. The Livro das Posturas by the municipal council referred to the remains of the castle existing in May 1799. Other records showing the many stones were robbed from the castle, resulting in a prohibition by local authorities against those that would destroy the castle to building their own homes. But, ironically it was remodelling of the bridge of Corvo, over the Ribeira do Alhêda that resulted in the deconstruction of the structure.
  During the third incursion by French forces, resulting from the Peninsular Wars, the region once again become a strategic point. Part of the battle of Casal Novo, which occurred on the morning of 14 March 1811, occurred in the parish of Lamas. A scorched earth policy by French forces resulted in the death of many, destruction of property, and the incubation of epidemics following the battle in many of the parishes.
caption: Detail in the monastery of Santa Maria
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